lrajap5873
macrumors newbie
Yeah it’s sort of enough. for power users you would need more then 256gb. I got an 128gb iPhone 14 Pro Max my storage has not been filled yet.
Is 128GB Enough iPhone Storage?
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I just want to mention in terms of SSD, your speed will degrade a lot once you reach 90% used up+. It is generally much better if you have space left.
Given inflation I wouldn't be surprise if Apple to push the price upwards. ( At the same time Strong US dollar means rising price will further add up after exchange rate for worldwide sales ). Component pricing isn't falling or if anything increased with current Interest rate.
$1199 iPhone Pro Max 256GB
$1099 iPhone Pro 256GB
$999 iPhone Plus 256GB
$899 iPhone 256GB
$849 iPhone 15 Plus *128GB*
$749 iPhone 15 *128GB*
$599 iPhone 14 *128GB*
$499 iPhone SE *128GB*. ( 2025 Feb? )
$449 iPhone SE Mini *128GB* ( 2026 Feb ? )
Or for more valued added pricing, basically offering 256GB at 128GB Pricing -------------------------------------
$1199 iPhone Pro Max 256GB
$1099 iPhone Pro 256GB
$899 iPhone Plus 256GB
$799 iPhone 256GB
$749 iPhone 15 Plus *128GB*
$649 iPhone 15 *128GB*
$599 iPhone 14 *128GB* ( Makes much more sense to be trimmed off once new iPhone SE arrived, at least officially via Apple but continue to be available in other Retails. )
$499 iPhone SE *128GB*. ( 2025 Feb? )
$449 iPhone SE Mini *128GB* ( 202*6* Feb ? )
Given inflation I wouldn't be surprise if Apple to push the price upwards. ( At the same time Strong US dollar means rising price will further add up after exchange rate for worldwide sales ). Component pricing isn't falling or if anything increased with current Interest rate.
$1199 iPhone Pro Max 256GB
$1099 iPhone Pro 256GB
$999 iPhone Plus 256GB
$899 iPhone 256GB
$849 iPhone 15 Plus *128GB*
$749 iPhone 15 *128GB*
$599 iPhone 14 *128GB*
$499 iPhone SE *128GB*. ( 2025 Feb? )
$449 iPhone SE Mini *128GB* ( 2026 Feb ? )
Or for more valued added pricing, basically offering 256GB at 128GB Pricing -------------------------------------
$1199 iPhone Pro Max 256GB
$1099 iPhone Pro 256GB
$899 iPhone Plus 256GB
$799 iPhone 256GB
$749 iPhone 15 Plus *128GB*
$649 iPhone 15 *128GB*
$599 iPhone 14 *128GB* ( Makes much more sense to be trimmed off once new iPhone SE arrived, at least officially via Apple but continue to be available in other Retails. )
$499 iPhone SE *128GB*. ( 2025 Feb? )
$449 iPhone SE Mini *128GB* ( 202*6* Feb ? )
The intent is to show the initial functionality… not to sustain continued use.
Datacenter storage is not free … or would you rather Apple jack up the device cost even more to support more generous cloud storage?
Good luck when you use that phone
NewOldStock
macrumors 6502
Paying extra for the usb-C just as well use it.
Offload Offload Offload.
Offload Offload Offload.
Do you mean, IF you hardly use your phone like YOU?
truthsteve
Suspended
Completely wrong.
1. Key-value storage uses the user's iCloud storage space. Even CloudKit's private database uses the user's iCloud storage space.
2. Key-value takes very little space. Assuming each app uses 1-2MB for key value, you're talking about a couple of thousand apps being able to use it which is more than enough for simple data syncing.
3. If an app needs to store large files, it'll instantly fill, sure and that's when the user pays which makes sense. Either that or the app developer needs to store it on their own backend for the user which the app developer would likely charge the user for. Apple shouldn't pay for everyone's large file storage usage.
I as an app developer always use iCloud to sync settings across devices and I just pop up an error if the user is out of space. That's the user's problem if they don't have enough space. I don't need to worry about anything else. Plenty of app developers have this same mindset. If the 5GB was never there, I would have never bothered adopting cross sync or likely charged the user for making me run the service to cross sync settings.
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neuropsychguy
macrumors 68040
I have 128GB on my iPhone 13 Pro. I take quite a few photos and videos. I rarely play games on my phone. I have a lot of music downloaded, some audiobooks, and many podcast episodes. I'm nowhere close to filling up my phone storage (102 GB, but I could free up 10-20 GB easily). I do have an Apple One subscription because it's relatively inexpensive for my family size with what we get for the price.
If I didn't have that, my family's photos would be backed up to my NAS (they are, but not regularly because iCloud is convenient).
If I didn't have that, my family's photos would be backed up to my NAS (they are, but not regularly because iCloud is convenient).
CarAnalogy
macrumors 603
I agree with you but unfortunately too many people are unaffected by either. Or, I suppose the better way to look at it, fortunately for them. But not us.
CarAnalogy
macrumors 603
Ha sorry but I can’t help but think about this one. Yeah it is, like a test drive. Like a floor model. Like a time limited trial. It's not something they are actually giving people intending them to seriously use.
CarAnalogy
macrumors 603
Ah ok so you did reply again and you kind of agree.
I don't think 5GB can be described as generous, so more would not be "more" generous.
Whatever they do, either call it a trial or give a usable amount for free. Cloud storage costs have come down. Talk about datacenter costs, what must 5GB for free have cost them more than a decade ago when they first announced it, and never ever upgraded the free tier?
You think they can offer a terabyte for ten bucks but can’t do better than 5% of that for the purchase price? Even if they only provided a time limited amount included with purchase?
I see your point but I also think my point stands that it's more like a free trial than something they seriously intend people to use.
CarAnalogy
macrumors 603
I don't think it's completely wrong, let's take this point by point, keeping in mind I'm a user/admin and not a developer.
1. I won't argue the details here but I do specifically remember a recent update separating key-value from icloud sync. Even if a user has iCloud Drive disabled, key-value still works to provide basic functionality. It was supposed to always be this way but now it explicitly is.
2. I'm not sure what point I made that you're addressing here but what I was saying is basically what you said, there are cloud syncing functionalities provided to developers for free that are separate from iCloud Drive. I think we are agreeing that Apple does need to provide some basic file storage for free.
3. This is the sticking point. I guess we disagree on the definition of "large" files. We agree that if a user is using significant cloud storage, it's reasonable to pay for it. I think we disagree on the amount.
I have yet to see anyone truly refute my basic premise, that 5GB is a tease. Sure, it's there to provide basic functionality. But 5GB is no longer enough for that. Why not 1GB? Why not 500MB? Or why not an actually theoretically usable amount to the average person, 15GB like Google does?
If it's there just to upsell iCloud, then we agree on its purpose. If it's there to provide basic free functionality, well, I can't completely argue with that. But I think it's far more like a floor model or demo. I don't think anyone today seriously considers 5GB to be a usable amount of storage for anything.
A big part of the issue is that iCloud Backup is turned on by default, and so essentially right away it starts bugging the user to upgrade storage, because 5GB is barely large enough to hold a single backup of a lightly used phone.
If backup storage were separate I wouldn't think it's as big of a problem. But they can't have it both ways unless they admit that the 5GB is not actually useful but just a taste.
cocky jeremy
macrumors 604
Definitely not.
I’m an iPhone user since IPhone 5. Never shot a photo on any iPhone or other smartphone. So, 128 GB is more than sufficient for me.
On iCloud 5GB is more than I need, but I own 50 GB due to iCloud+ and I’ m using less than 5GB. I just subscribed iCloud+ due to Private Relay.
On Mac I need at least 1TB of space, but at this moment I’m using 430 GB.
On iCloud 5GB is more than I need, but I own 50 GB due to iCloud+ and I’ m using less than 5GB. I just subscribed iCloud+ due to Private Relay.
On Mac I need at least 1TB of space, but at this moment I’m using 430 GB.
JonnyMacx86
macrumors regular
I would say that for the vast majority of consumers, 128GB is enough. It's not nearly enough for most of us on MR forums, though!
There are a lot of elements that go into an iPhone besides storage size so comparing cheap budget phones against premium ones can be misleading. Apple pricing is fairly in-line with comparable quality devices. Below are examples of regular retail prices of current 128GB smartphones:
Apple iPhone 15 = $829
Google Pixel 8 = $699
Samsung Galaxy S24 = $799
truthsteve
Suspended
Sigh.
Turning iCloud Drive on/off has nothing to do with key-value storage. Key-value storage isn't saved on iCloud **DRIVE** but it still uses the user's iCloud storage allotment.
Going into detail: **KEY STRINGS** (not the VALUE) are still allocating space on user's total iCloud storage allotment. It's 64 bytes per key string with a max of 64KB cumulatively per app (I was wrong earlier to say 1-2MB per app). The free 5GB makes this possible. 5GB with the 64KB per app limit also makes it possible to the point where the user never needs to manage this. User can download thousands of apps and never have to worry about deleting the key-values. In fact I believe there's no way to do this outside the app at all, even if you delete the app from all of your devices.
No. See above. Key-value uses user's iCloud allotment (nothing to do with iCloud Drive). It is not purely a free allotment per app as it requires the user to have space in the 5GB storage.
I don't know what kind of size you're thinking that it's not a "tease" and it's not my perceived meaning of "large". What use case is this?
iCloud backups? No way. That's expensive. Entire photo library? Nah. Entire lifetime of iMessage conversations? Nope. Way too expensive. But other services, 5GB makes perfect sense.
Nope. Apps are still providing a critical cross device syncing feature and 5GB is great as the user's library of apps grow and the user continues using things like email.
5GB is subsidized by the device price tag. Apple wants you to use as much services as you can while hitting the $0/mo price tag. If it was 64GB free, you'd be paying much more for your iPhone upfront.
Why not 500MB? Email is one where you can use for several years without being asked to pay more on 5GB. App syncing prefs for several years is covered under that too. If it was 500MB, that would be by your definition, a tease as you couldn't really use those services for a long time.
Also like I said earlier, Apple doesn't want the user to think about managing the key values. As those values seem to be permanently stored with no way to delete them. They take so little space and 5GB is more than enough to not let the user worry about it ever throughout their human life.
That's not an issue. We shouldn't expect Apple to provide free daily iCloud backups for every single iOS/iPad device in the world for free.
But Apple recommends users should be backing up their digital life daily. Leaving it off by default would be bad news for millions of customers who just skips intro screens and don't know better.
This is also evident when you plug in an external drive to Mac and it bugs you to back up via Time Machine.
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FreakinEurekan
macrumors 604
... if you're shooting proRAW and 4K60, I agree with you.
For the vast, VAST majority of iPhone users, 128GB is fine.
Closingracer
macrumors 601
I was thinking about getting the 256 iPhone 15 pro but got the base because it was cheaper. I already pay for iCloud storage. 128 is fine but I wish they upgraded the base to 256 on the pro models at least.
DEMinSoCAL
macrumors 603
You think? Pretty sure Apple went from 200GB to 2TB for a reason -- it's called $$$. They know 1TB would be the most popular option but why offer it when you can force users to spend $10 on the 2TB plan?
DEMinSoCAL
macrumors 603
I buy a $1200 iPhone and Apple gives me 5GB of iCloud for free.
I buy a $69 Microsoft 365 subscription and Microsoft gives me 1TB of OneDrive for free.
Suddenly, Apple seems to be the cheapskate.